The platform is rolling out a fresh option that allows them to reduce the volume of artificial intelligence-produced content appearing in their timelines. This step comes as the platform announced that it currently hosts over 1 bn content made with AI.
Pilot Phase and Launch
The update is in a pilot phase over the next few weeks before a full-scale launch. This shift aligns with a rise in AI content, fueled by new content generation software.
AI Proliferation Online
Studies have shown that almost a tenth of the quickest rising channels on a popular video site primarily display clips produced artificially. A large amount of this material is considered “AI slop”, a term for inferior, bulk-generated content that is typically illogical or dreamlike.
“We know from our community that many people like content produced via AI tools, from AI artwork to informative clips, and we aim to give people the power to adjust the amount of that, depending on their own preferences,” said a spokesperson.
Scale of AI Content
The service disclosed that there are currently 1.3bn videos on its app labeled as AI-generated. Collectively, more than 100 mn pieces of content are added to the app every day, making AI-generated material a relatively small percentage of its overall inventory.
How to Adjust Settings
Viewers will be able to reduce or increase the amount of AI content they watch by accessing the “manage topic” setting in the app and choosing the AI content topic. Additional categories that can already be controlled under the filter include news, fashion, aesthetics, and dance.
AI Disclosure Rules
The platform’s guidelines require content makers to label “realistic” AI-generated content, and it forbids malicious fake videos of public figures or crisis events. Any authentic-looking artificial content that is not labeled can be removed under its user guidelines.
In addition, the app will now apply an “AI-made” tag to content made using its proprietary AI systems, or identified by an industry-wide initiative for spotting content made by AI. This action is aimed to stop users from seeking to circumvent the disclosure requirement.
AI Literacy Programs
The company is also introducing a $2 million educational fund for specialists and organizations to produce learning resources about using AI responsibly. This project will benefit non-profit groups specializing in teaching computer science.
Moderation Strategy
The video-sharing app has supported its safety measures, following controversy over proposals to make redundant hundreds of review team members in the United Kingdom. TikTok is expected to reduce 439 jobs in its content moderation division in the UK capital, with trade unions and digital protection specialists voicing alarm that staff are being displaced by AI moderation.
A trust and safety lead clarified that human moderation would still have a role, but AI can safeguard staff by removing the most distressing content before it has to be seen by people. The company stated a significant reduction in explicit and harmful content seen by safety staff over the last 12 months due to reliance on its AI tools.
“We think that it’s essential to integrate staff and AI to maintain a secure environment,” the executive stated. “We’ll have staff as involved in the system, but we also think it’s highly necessary to reduce exposure to harmful content as quickly as possible, which is where a significant AI assistance is making a difference operate efficiently.”
